Abstract: This collection contains twenty-four documents on the history of nineteenth-century Los Angeles, some of which are in Spanish
and others in English.

Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English

Access

Collection is open to research under the terms of use of the Department of Archives and Special Collections, Loyola Marymount
University.

Publication Rights

Materials in the Department of Archives and Special Collections may be subject to copyright. Unless explicitly stated otherwise,
Loyola Marymount University does not claim ownership of the copyright of any materials in its collections. The user or publisher
must secure permission to publish from the copyright owner. Loyola Marymount University does not assume any responsibility
for infringement of copyright or of publication rights held by the original author or artists or his/her heirs, assigns, or
executors.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Series number, Box and Folder number, Documents for the History of Nineteenth-Century Los Angeles,
1846-1908, CSLA-22, Department of Archives and Special Collections, William H. Hannon Library, Loyola Marymount University.

Acquisition Information

Carrol Morrison, with the assistance of Michael Engh, S. J., as the intermediary for the Leavey Center for the Study of Los
Angeles. 2003

Custodial History

Carroll and Lorrin Morrison, former editors of the
Journal of the West, probably obtained these documents from a Eunice Crittendon, who may have been a former employee of the Los Angeles County
Sherrif's Department.

Scope and Content of Collection

This collection contains twenty-four documents on the history of nineteenth-century Los Angeles, some of which are in Spanish
and others in English. The documents in Spanish from the 1840s are written in a nineteenth-century cursive.

Letters, circulars, petitions, a jury verdict, and other documents, some in Spanish and some in English, constitute this collection's
holdings. The dates of the documents run from 1846 to 1908, with the bulk of the datable material originating between 1846
and 1857. Five of the documents are undated. Although the 30 October 1908 date of the announcement regarding the opening of
the LaPetite Theatre (Box 1, Folder 7) is much later than the bulk of the material in this collection, it remains here because
of its original inclusion with the other materials of the collection at the time they were accessioned. A Eunice Crittendon,
from whom Carroll and Lorrin Morrison probably obtained these materials, made notes about and photocopies of some documents,
which have been retained with the collection.

Many of the documents are autograph documents of, or concern, such important figures in Los Angeles history as Pío Pico (1801-1894),
last governor of Mexican California and prominent landholder; his brother Andrés Pico (1810-1876), leader of the Mexican defense
in California against the U. S. forces; mayor, city council member, and civic leader, Stephen Foster (1820-1898); Sheriff
James Barton (d. 1857); Hugo Reid (1811?-1852), owner of the Rancho Santa Anita and defender of Native American rights; the
judge and lawyer Benjamin Hayes (1815-1877); and Kimball H. Dimmick, district attorney from 1852 to 1853. The documents cover
various aspects of nineteenth-century life in Los Angeles, ranging from the frivolous--dirty courtrooms--to the serious: difficulties
with Native American raiders over livestock theft; problems in city government, including an indictment of the county jailer
for corruption; crime; and pollution of the zanja or water system.

Some documents are in fragile condition and for research use a photocopy of the item is available. Their condition is noted
in the entries in the box and folder list below that provides an index to the contents of CSLA-22.

Arrangement

Because there is no original order, the physical arrangement of the collection's materials is arbitrary, but the collection
guide has been arranged in chronological order to give a better view of the range of materials across the nineteenth century.
The documents in Box 1, Folders 5 and 19 were originally housed together but have been separated for preservation purposes.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.

Arrest order for Manuel Fernández de Cordova, Francisco Aguello (sic), and Francisco Lugo issued by Justice of the Peace,
William Osburn. Sheriff George T. Burrill deputizes David Brown to carry out order.
August 5, 1850

Box:Folder 1:19

District Attorney William C. Ferrell's motion to refer to the Court of Sessions presentment of the grand jury on condition
of city jail. Originally with document in Box 1, Folder 5.
October 1850

Los Angeles County grand jury findings re condition of county jail. FRAGILE: Photocopy for research use. October 18, 1850

Box:Folder 1:5

Los Angeles grand jury indictment of county jailer, George Robinson, for "corrupt misconduct in office." Indictment signed
by District Attorney Kimball H. Dimmick. October term. Originally with document in Box 1, Folder 19.
October 11, 1852